To many liquor aficionados, living in a what’s called an “alcohol beverage control” state like Oregon, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire versus a privatized state means a bureaucratic stranglehold that limits access and options, but as one reporter shows, in some cases, government control benefits those seeking usual or high-end spirits. And no, he isn’t drunk.

“Foie gras is an easy target. There are only three foie farms in the country, and none of them have the money or government clout to defend themselves the way that the chicken or beef industry does. It’s a food product that is marketed directly at the affluent, and the rich are always an easy target. As an occasional delicacy, it’s also a food that’s relatively easy for most people to give up.”